SA Rugby
Rumours doing the rounds that the Cheetahs are set to lose some of their stars have been correct. Star centre, Robert Ebersohn has signed with French Club Montpellier. He will reportedly still play in this year’s Currie Cup, before furthering his career overseas.
The DHL Stormers continue to be trend-setters under the now three-year-old conference system for economy in try-concession in Super Rugby.
Brad Macleod-Henderson was on Tuesday confirmed as Sharks coach for the upcoming Currie Cup season.
Stormers flank Don Armand has become the latest player to leave the Cape side after he confirmed a move to English Premiership club Exeter Chiefs.
Loftus Versveld and Waikato Stadium in Hamilton will be the venues for the two Super Rugby semifinals after details were confirmed by SANZAR.
The Stormers plan to lodge a complaint with Super Rugby organisers SANZAR about the provisional 2014 Super Rugby draw.
A provisional list of Super Rugby fixtures have been released to the Stormers for 2014 and revealed a a tour from hell for the Stormers.
Toyota Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has a firm message for all of those writing off his team’s hopes in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby finals series – we are not done.
Drotske and his team arrived in their plush Coogee Beach base in Sydney, where they will be until Friday before heading south to Canberra by bus as they prepare to take on Jake White’s Brumbies side in their playoff match.
SANZAR have warned coaches that taking unnecessary pot-shots at referees could land them in hot water.
New Zealand referee Chris Pollock has been axed from the Super Rugby play-offs, because of poor form.
The Vodacom Bulls were officially crowned South African Conference winners in Cape Town on Saturday evening, but The Sharks and the DHL Stormers took the spoils in the final round of Vodacom Super Rugby league action for 2013.
Although these two coastal sides, semi-finalists in 2012, missed out on the Finals Series this year, they recorded solid final round victories to end a disappointing season on a high note.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Saturday announced the 28-man Coca-Cola SA Schools squad that will feature in an Under-18 International series in August.
The squad was chosen by a panel featuring national selectors Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh, the SA Schools selectors led by convener Henkie Green, and SA under-20 coach Dawie Theron following the conclusion of the 50th Coca-Cola Craven Week in Polokwane.
Stormers (23) 30 / 13 (13) Bulls (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Coca-Cola Craven Week for Schools Under 18 Rugby takes place in Polokwane in Limpopo Province from 8 July 2013.
Sharks (26) 58 / 13 (13) Kings (Final Score)
The Sharks and Southern Kings did battle in Super Rugby at Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Demetri Catrakilis is heading back to Cape Town to play for Western Province in this year’s Currie Cup.
Springbok fullback Jaco Taute has made his stay in Cape Town a permanent one.
Here are the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announded for Round 20 of Super Rugby 2013.
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has recovered from his sternum injury and will lead the DHL Stormers against the Bulls in Saturday’s final Vodacom Super Rugby clash of the season at DHL Newlands.
Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter Frans Ludeke het Francois Venter gekies om die beseerde Jan Serfontein te vervang in die span wat Saterdag op Nuweland teen die DHL Stormers speel. Serfontein het ‘n kniebesering.
Ludeke moes ook Francois Hougaard (enkelbesering) op skrumskakel vervang.
Paul Anthony, who was John Smit’s rugby coach at high school, is set to join the Sharks as assistant coach for the Currie Cup, a report on the Beeld website indicates.
Anthony has coached the Blue Bulls’ under-19 team over the last few years, but is well known for spending 25 years at Pretoria Boys’ High, Smit’s Alma Mater.
Vodacom Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp’s two-week ban has opened the door for Junior Bok star Jacques du Plessis to possibly make his debut for the Pretoria side this weekend against the DHL Stormers at Newlands.
All eyes may be on Vodacom Super Rugby at the moment, but the Blue Bulls’ Absa Currie Cup campaign was dealt a blow with the news that Junior Boks flyhalf Handre Pollard injured himself at practice on Tuesday.
With the Currie Cup set to start in five weeks’ time, Pollard hurt his AC joint and has been ruled out for between four to six weeks. The Bulls medical staff are hopeful that he will be ready in time for the start of the competition.
Pat Lambie is the Sharks’ only injury concern heading into their clash with the Kings in Durban this week after he picked up an injury in the clash with the Bulls.
The versitile back picked up a back injury in their one-point loss against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday and Sharks coach Grant Bashford is worried that he will not be available for the clash with the Kings.
South Africa’s Craig Joubert, who was in charge of the Rugby World Cup 2011 Final, will referee the first Test under the scrum engagement trial sequence when he takes charge of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on 17 August.
The International Rugby Board on Wednesday announced the names of the 12 referees for The Castle Rugby Championship. These appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee following a detailed review of recent performances during the June Tests.
Die Vodacom Bulls gaan die volgende twee weke van die Vodacom Super Rugby-toernooi sonder Jan Serfontein moet klaarkom. Die senter het ‘n kniebesering in die Bulls se 20-19 sege oor die Sharks opgedoen en volgens spandokter Org Strauss gaan hy minstens twee weke buite aksie wees.
The Cheetahs have been boosted by the announcement that Springbok Willie le Roux extended his contract at the franchise for a further two years.
The Vodacom Bulls moved to the top of the log and the Toyota Cheetahs made Vodacom Super Rugby history during a weekend where the top six for 2013 was finalised with one round of action left to play.
Bulls (13) 20 / 19 (8) Sharks (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:15 SA Time (17:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Kings (9) 12 / 24 (11) Stormers (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Having come out of their match against the Blues without any serious injuries, The Sharks were able to name an almost complete replica side for this Saturday’s clash with the Bulls.
Aside from Kyle Cooper making way for Bismarck du Plessis’ return to the starting line-up for the first time this year (and re-uniting an all-Bok front row), The Sharks side to take on the Bulls has remained unchanged for the penultimate pool match of Vodacom Super Rugby 2013.
Die Vodacom Bulls se mees ervare speler nog, Mornè Steyn, is terug in die beginspan wat Saterdag op Loftus Versfeld teen die Sharks in ‘n Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd speel.
Two of the Cheetahs’ key players face late fitness tests ahead of the team’s decisive Super Rugby encounter with the Blues in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Cheetahs, who have a bye in the final round of league action next week, must beat the Blues to guarantee themselves a first-ever appearance in the Super Rugby play-offs.
After watching a program on Kyknet (Kwela) I learned that one of Loftus Versveld’s biggest heroes will retire at the end of this season. I feel that this is the biggest loss the Bulls could ever imagine. Come on Bully boys do it for the Manager. I read this old article and decided to share it here.
SANZAR has released the names of the match officials forRound 19 of Super Rugby 2013.
Jonathon White is in charge of Friday’s match between the Chiefs and Crusaders, and what an important clash that will be!
There are 5 matches this weekend, with the Australian sides still sitting out due to the British & Irish Lions series in Australia, but the good news is that at conclusion of this weekend, the Combined Log will no longer be skewed and will reflect the correct position between all 15 sides, finally!
Friday has 1 match and Saturday has 4 matches.
The Sharks head into their clash with the Bulls in Pretoria with the rare positive that they have a clean bill of health after their last-ditch victory over the Blues.
Apart from the usual knocks that players receive during a match, the Sharks have every player available from the nail-bitting win at Kings Park on Saturday.
Will Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke elevate young Handre Pollard to his match squad for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby showdown with the Sharks?
That’s the big question this week as the Bulls prepare to rumble on against a dangerous Sharks team who still believes it can make the playoffs.